2019-08-06 PA UpdatePA Update
August 6, 2019
2:03 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, County Manager Erik
Martin, Becky Butler, Amber Caulfield, Eric Eisenberg, Cullen Gatten, Sara Wibowo
Guest: Alex Brown
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Eric Eisenberg discussed staff vacancies.
Eric said he has options regarding a fireworks ban:
• Do nothing, allowing sales around July 4 and New Year
• Narrow state law slightly, decreasing sales or use timelines
• Prohibitions linked to fire conditions
• Prohibitions set by the fire official (similar to a burn ban)
• Permitting requirements (similar to Clark County’s permit process)
• Full ban with exceptions (similar to Franklin County’s process)
• Full ban with no exceptions
Eric said the county could be divided into sections, if desired:
• Set different sales and discharge rules
• Bans on certain types of fireworks (such as Soap Lakes’ ban on aerials)
• Condition allowance by insurance policy
Eric said the county has three legal theories it could use:
• Nuisance theory
• Fireworks-specific theory
• Fire code theory
Commissioner Stamper discussed his concerns regarding enforcement.
Commissioner Fund said she likes the idea of the fire marshal being in charge of setting the fireworks
ban.
Erik Martin asked what would happen regarding fireworks sales if a ban is enacted.
Commissioner Jackson said he has concerns regarding fires caused by fireworks use.
Commissioner Fund indicated a ban would need to be coordinated with the cities. She said it can be
difficult to ascertain jurisdictions, especially close for properties close to Centralia’s city limits, the UGA
and the county’s limits.
Eric said it may be respectful to reach out to the Tribe if the county explores a ban.
Eric said work is being done to finalize emergency response plans and the county’s crossing agreements
related to the Skookumchuck wind farm project. He said construction may begin soon.
Cullen Gatten said he is continuing his work on a proposed noise ordinance. Cullen also discussed his
work on repeat code enforcement offenders. He discussed creating a misdemeanor for a certain number
of infractions.
Amber Caulfield discussed a proposed ordinance change related to emergency services. She said
Ordinance 1239 lists the sheriff as the director of emergency services.
Amber said the RCWs allow water sewer district to have a street light system. She said she has spoken to
Water Sewer District 2 regarding the district’s ability to have a street light system but that it would
require a system plan with engineer work. She noted a system plan could be adopted after-the-fact but
that it would be quite costly. She said another fix could be to have a policy change at the PUD.
Eric said the parcels data is not stored on the PATS site.
Becky Butler left at 2:43 p.m.
Eric said it’s unclear whether the Assessor’s Office could limit access to the data. He said it comes down
to a separation of powers question. He said it’s a gray area. Eric said IT stores the data on its servers and
designed the website on which the data is displayed.
Commissioner Stamper said he’d like to discuss Tacoma Power with Eric later.
At 2:55 p.m., Commissioner Jackson announced that the Board was going into Executive Session under
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) for 20 minutes to discuss pending and potential litigation.
Executive Session ended at 3:15 p.m. Commissioner Jackson noted that no decisions had been made.
Meeting ended at 3:15 p.m.